2009 North Korean nuclear test

2009 North Korean nuclear test
2009 North Korean nuclear test
	Graphic from the United States Geological Survey showing the location of seismic activity at the time of the test
Information
Country	North Korea
Test site	41°18′22″N 129°01′44″E / 41.306°N 129.029°E, Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, Kilju County.
Period	09:54:43, 25 May 2009 KST
Number of tests	1
Test type	Underground
Device type	Fission
Max. yield	2.4 kilotons of TNT (10 TJ) (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission); 2.35 kt (9.8 TJ) (Estimation from Chinese academics); 5.1–8.9 kt (21–37 TJ) (Estimations from University of Science and Technology of China); 5.4 kt (23 TJ) (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources estimates in Jan 2016), which was revised from earlier estimates at 13 kt (54 TJ) in 2013; 10–20 kt (42–84 TJ) (Russian estimates); 1–20 kt (4.2–83.7 TJ) (South Korea Defense Minister estimates); 3–8 kt (13–33 TJ) (Analyst Martin Kalinowski at the University of Hamburg); 2–6 kt (8.4–25.1 TJ), but likely less than 4 kt (17 TJ) (Hans M. Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists);
Test chronology

2km
1.2miles

South

West

East

North portal

6

5

4

3

2

1

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Location of North Korea's nuclear tests
1: 2006; 2: 2009; 3: 2013; 4: 2016-01; 5: 2016-09; 6: 2017;

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The 2009 North Korean nuclear test was the underground detonation of a nuclear device conducted on Monday, 25 May 2009 by North Korea. This was its second nuclear test, the first test having taken place in October 2006. Following the nuclear test, Pyongyang also conducted several missile tests. A scientific paper later estimated the yield as 2.35 kilotons.

The test was nearly universally condemned by the international community. Following the test, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1874 condemning the test and tightening sanctions on the country.

It was widely believed that the test was conducted as a result of the succession crisis in the country. After Kim Jong Il suffered a stroke in the summer of 2008, arrangements were made for his third son, Kim Jong Un, to take power upon his death. It is believed the North Koreans conducted the nuclear test to show that, even in a time of possible weakness, it did not intend to give up its nuclear weapons program.